Source:
CBS NewsReports of Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf's decision to step down by Sunday and avoid a parliamentary impeachment which could begin on Monday, does little to end internal political discord in the U.S.-backed south Asian country, senior Western diplomats warned late Thursday night.
The warnings from diplomats followed confirmation to CBS News from two senior Pakistani government officials who both said, president Musharraf had decided to step down by Sunday. They officials spoke on condition that they would not be named due to the sensitivity of the information.
Just before stepping down, Musharraf would hand charge to Mohammad Mian Soomro, chairman of Pakistan's senate and next in line to the president. Soomro will then continue as acting president of the country till fresh elections and held within six to twelve weeks, according to one of the two Pakistani government officials who spoke to CBS News.
News of Musharraf's departure will present the U.S. with the dilemma of re-establishing close relations with a new Pakistani president, especially to carry on close coordination between the two countries in the U.S. led war on terror. But questions remain over the way such a transition would work.
Read more:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/14/world/main4351299.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_4351299